How-To Geek

Syndicate content
We explain technology. Learn more with our articles, reviews, tips, and the best answers to your most pressing tech questions.
Updated: 34 min 27 sec ago

Things you can 3D print at home (but shouldn't)

Mon, 01/26/2026 - 20:30

Having a 3D printer is great! You can make just about anything you can imagine, as long as it's made from something that comes in the form of a filament. However, there are limits to what you should bring into the world from your imagination. For example, it's probably a bad idea to print any of these.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Stop buying 1TB SSDs: They are a rip-off in 2026

Mon, 01/26/2026 - 20:30

At a time when SSD prices are completely wild and almost guaranteed to get even worse, it's hard to shop for PC storage. There used to be a sweet spot for cost per terabyte, but that sweet spot is now long gone.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The cheapest new luxury car you can get in 2026

Mon, 01/26/2026 - 20:00

Luxury cars used to feel off-limits—flashy badges, confusing options, and prices that climbed fast. In 2026, that idea feels outdated.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Raspberry Pi OS alternative DietPi just got a big update

Mon, 01/26/2026 - 19:10

DietPi is a popular Linux distribution for Raspberry Pi computers and other single-board computers. There's a new major release out this week, though it comes with some bad news for systems that can't be updated to Debian 12 or later versions.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your SSD backups might vanish in 1 year: Set this reminder now

Mon, 01/26/2026 - 18:30

If you are using external drives for backups, archival, or any other infrequent use, you should set up periodic reminders to check them for failures. You should do that right now, before you forget. Seriously. Now.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Milwaukee’s new 4-battery dock makes charging fast and easy

Mon, 01/26/2026 - 18:02

If you have a wide array of Milwaukee tools, you understand the struggle of constantly keeping all your battery packs charged up during a project. And if you use a combination of M12 and M18 tools, things are even worse. Thankfully, Milwaukee just announced a 4-bay simultaneous fast charger you'll love.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I've been attending work calls as a virtual avatar, and I haven't gotten fired (yet)

Mon, 01/26/2026 - 18:00

I’ve owned a Samsung Galaxy XR headset for a few months now, and I enjoy most things about it. But my experience joining video calls in particular has called into question not only whether we can place video calls from such a device, but should we?

Categories: IT General, Technology

The 3 best logical functions I always use in Excel

Mon, 01/26/2026 - 18:00

Excel's logical functions test whether a statement or data is true or false, before enabling the program to carry out an action based on the result. They are useful for analyzing data, automating certain tasks or calculations, and, ultimately, making decisions.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The new Apple AirTag doesn't fix my biggest complaint

Mon, 01/26/2026 - 17:04

Following months of rumors and speculation, Apple has revealed the second-generation AirTag trackers. There are some helpful improvements in the new model, but you probably don't need to rush with replacing your existing trackers.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Why I’m hosting my SaaS app on an $8 VPS instead of Vercel or Cloudflare

Mon, 01/26/2026 - 16:30

In my quest to launch a SaaS app, I tried out several different hosts, including two of the biggest players for Next.js websites. However, I settled on an unlikely alternative that costs less and delivers more: a VPS. Here’s how I ditched Vercel and Cloudflare Pages for my own VPS, and why I think you should too.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This sedan pairs German engineering with Japanese-level pricing

Mon, 01/26/2026 - 16:15

Crossovers and SUVs have taken over showrooms, and somewhere along the way the sedan got treated like a bad idea. We’re told we need more height, tougher looks, and all-wheel drive just to survive a commute that mostly involves traffic lights and potholes.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This tiny memory card is actually an NVMe SSD (Here is why)

Mon, 01/26/2026 - 16:15

microSD cards are fantastic storage tools, but they’ve never been one to win file transfer speed records—that is, until microSD Express. The latest microSD standard could completely revolutionize portable storage, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Stop wrestling with Windows 11: 5 reasons Linux is finally the simpler choice

Mon, 01/26/2026 - 15:30

Windows has been my bread and butter for most of my life, starting with Windows 3.1. Over time, it has just become more and more user-friendly, but in the last few years, and particularly since the advent of generative AI, working with Windows feels like wresting with an angry bear on a daily basis.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Why your iPhone isn't charging at full speed (and how to fix it)

Mon, 01/26/2026 - 15:00

Unlike Android phones, Apple hasn't qute embraced the ridiculous charging speeds that are possible with modern chargers and batteries, but that doesn't mean you can't get into a situation where your iPhone isn't charging as fast as it should.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I ditched my favorite to-do app for a Linux terminal—here's what surprised me

Mon, 01/26/2026 - 14:30

I learned about TickTick from MKBHD’s 2020 What’s on My Phone video. Since then, it’s been my go-to task manager, and I’ve used it on Linux, Windows, and Android. I like its UI, especially its Windows desktop widget, solid task management features, and well-thought-out notification system.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This SUV offers German levels of performance at Japanese prices

Mon, 01/26/2026 - 14:15

German performance SUVs are often praised for their powerful engines and composed handling, but they also come with correspondingly high price tags. That’s why one Japanese-built SUV is turning heads in 2026 by delivering performance that feels every bit as sharp and capable, yet at pricing that stays closer to mainstream expectations. It’s a rare blend of driving excitement and value that few rivals can match in the current market.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to add and use value tokens in Microsoft Excel

Mon, 01/26/2026 - 13:30

Most Excel sheets are dumb—they contain static text that has no connection to the real world, forcing you to manually update prices and stats by hand. Value tokens change that. These smart pills link your cells directly to live data from the web, turning a boring, stagnant grid into a professional, self-updating dashboard.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 simple Home Assistant questions you were too afraid to ask

Mon, 01/26/2026 - 13:00

So you keep hearing about how Home Assistant is the ultimate smart home platform, but you still feel lost. Here are some burning questions you might need answered before you can take the next step.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 awesome Prime Video movies to watch this week (January 26 - February 1)

Mon, 01/26/2026 - 13:00

Amazon Prime Video is wasting no time ushering in hit flicks. I, for one, appreciate the fresh rotation. This week, we’re closing out January with a wee bit of drama, thrills, and action, and then we’re strolling into February with an easy-going cult classic.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I ditched algorithms by building a start page that only shows what I care about

Mon, 01/26/2026 - 12:30

Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and most other major social media sites will feed you content based on how you interact with the site and what the company knows about you. However, I wanted to set up something that was curated to my interests without being algorithmically driven, so I set up my own personal start page.

Categories: IT General, Technology

eXTReMe Tracker